The avalanche risk was level 4 – 5 at 11.29am yesterday when the French pair, thought to be in their 20s, were skiing off-piste in Tovière without detectors.

They were dug out of the north-facing slope by rescue teams from Tignes and neighbouring Val d’Isere.

The first was found quickly, soon regained consciousness and is now at home. The second, a woman, was taken to hospital in Grenoble where she remains. A third person was with them but managed to avoid the avalanche.

A spokeswoman for the resort, which is popular with British skiers, said instructors from the area were among those searching for the skiers.

The Telegraph’s ski correspondent Peter Hardy said the accident happened near a steep black piste beneath the Aeroski gondola.

He said: “I was skiing in the area with a local guide earlier in the week and this sector of the mountain was firmly closed. It had not yet been prepared for the season and was a virgin snowfield.

“With an avalanche danger of 4/5, venturing off the secured pistes is incredibly dangerous,” he added. “This level means that an avalanche on a slope of this severe degree can release naturally at any time - even without the pressure of a passing skier.

“Much more snow is expected in the coming days and because of the sheer volume accumulating, the risk of straying from a secured piste remains extreme.”

High volumes of snow in the Alps last season led to an increase in avalanches.

A death was recorded in Lech, where mountain guides expressed surprise that, despite an avalanche warning of 4 out of 5 following a 130cm snowfall, skiers had ventured off-piste.